Apparatus for electromedical treatment



June 1936' J. PATzoLD-ET AL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROMEDICAL TREATMENT FiledNov. 17, 1931 3 mm Z W Z 2 my f 5 Tod m U my Patented June 16, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROMEDICAL TREATMENT Werke,

Aktiengesellschaft,

Erlangen, Germany,-a corporation of Germany Application November 17,1931, Serial No. 575,594

Germany November 18, 1930 12 Claims.

The present inventionrelates to apparatus for electro-therapeutictreatment, and is particularly concerned with means for the application.of medical treatment with electric oscillations.

It is well known that a treatment with very high frequencies may beaccomplished in several ways. The subject to be treated can be exposedeither to a magnetic high frequency alternating field or to a highfrequency electric field. It is also possible to connect the subject tobe treated in a galvanic circuit excited by high frequency oscillations.The fact that parts of the generator are under high tension, and thefurther fact that high frequency generators alter their frequency uponthe moving of conducting parts, even upon moving the patient orresponsive to the movement of the operator, are in all the abovementioned methods of great disadvantage for the proper operation of theequipment as well as for the subject to be treated and for the operatorapplying the treatment.

It has, therefore, been suggested to separate the generator from thetreatment equipment proper, i. e., from the field electrodes in case oftreatment in a condenser field, and to connect the same by means of atransmission system. It must be borne in mind, however, that such atransmission system must be onewhich is particularly adapted for thetransmission of high frequency electric oscillations, that is to say, itmust be a high-frequency-feed-line system. This is of utmost importancesince the energy losses in the transmission system, relative to thegenerator, due to damping and to stray effects, are unbear- 34 ablygreat in the case of ordinary transmission systems. In accordance withthe terminology employed in the art of high frequency, the designationhigh-frequency-feed-line system is applied to a system characterized bythe production of 40 standing waves. The so-called Lecher conductorshave been found particularly suitable. for this t pe of transmission. Itis possible, by means of such a transmission system, to transmit theenergy of the high frequency generator almost 45 free of losses andpractically over any desirable distance.

However, the peculiarity of this transmission system requires a rigidconnection of the treatment equipment proper with the generator. It

50 is, therefore, necessary to approximate the position of the patientto, the position of the treatment apr tratus. This introducescomplications which areremoved by the present invention.

It is proposed. according to the invention, to

5 provide means between the. generator and the cases for adjusting thetreatment apparatus to the needs of 'the patient and operator. 15

In cases of equipment including an enclosed generator and ahigh-frequency-feed-line disposed within an envelope, this joint, i. e.,a Cardan or universal joint as above mentioned, may

be employed for providing the connection between the envelope of thetransmission system and the housing of the generator. The practicalutility of the above described arrangement will be increased ifprovision is made for rotating the treatment equipment proper around thelongitudinal axis of the highfrequency-feed-line system, in addition tothe provisions for moving the same horizontally and also vertically. Themechanism which is dis-v closed in the present invention permits suchmovement, and the provision of the means disposed between the generatorand the treatment equipment, for taking care of the above mentionedmobility of the treatment equipment .is, therefore, to be considered afurther object and characteristic of the invention. It may be remarkedat this point that ball joints permit any desired motion of thecorresponding parts relative to one another. However, they areunsuitable in the case of a feed line system which is enclosed within anenvelope such as employed in the present case. The diameter of theenvelope is usually so large that the use of suitable ball joints wouldentail either prohibitive cost in production or result in inaccurateoperation. The novel method of securing the Garden joint to the envelopeof the high-frequency-feed-line system, disclosed herein, represents afurther object and characteristic of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in whichFigure 1 shows a total view of the means for applying medical ortherapeutic treatment in a proper (application condenser) is disposed ata distance from the generator, being connected thereto by means of ahigh-frequency-feed-line system with a joint interposed as mentionedpreviously;

Figure 2 is a partial view of the apparatus showing the joint insectional front elevation o a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a planof the joint; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the joint.

The generator is enclosed within the housing 4 andconsists of a threeelectrode tube connected in a so-called three point circuit. In thiscircuit the three electrodes are connected with three points ofan outeroscillating circuit formed, in the example shown, by a capacity 3connected in parallel to the inner tube capacity with the leads to thecondenser as inductance. Suchan oscillating circuit is sufiicient forproducing the desired electric oscillations. The treatment apparatusproper is represented by the condenser IL. This condenser 12 may beformed -of two metal electrodes covered with insulating material andarranged for application relative to the subject tov be treated andsuitabhr spaced therefrom. In the example illustrated, the treatmentcondenser i2 is bridged by an inductance ll serving the purpose ofadjusting the treatment apparatus to the frequency of the generator.

The transmission of the electrical oscillations from the generator tothe. treatment equipment takes place by way of ahigh-frequency-feed-line system comprising two Lecher conductors 8 and 9enclosed within a metal envelope 1. The conductors 8 and 9 are coupledwith the generator by means of a coupling coil in. In carrying out p theinvention in practice, this coil which is shown by a plurality ofwindings, and also the inductances of the outer generator oscillatingcircuit, may be formed of a simple wire loop suitably secured near theouter generator circuit.

The metallic shell or envelope 1 is secured to the wall 5 of thegenerator housing 4 with the Cardan joint 6 interposed therebetween.This joint permits movement of the transmission system together with thetreatment apparatus in horizontal and in vertical direction relative tothe generator. The wires 8 and 9 must, of course, be conducted throughthe joint Gin such a manner that the coupling coil 10 is not affected bythe adjusting movements.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, which illustrate an embodiment of the Cardanjoint 6 shown in Fig. 1 on alarger scale and in greater detail, it willbe observed that the joint consists mainly of an outer ring l3 and aninner ring H. The ring I! terminates at one side in a flange mounted onthe wall 5 of the generator box by screws I5, I .and H. The ring ll isconnected with the ring I! by means of set-screws l8 and I9, so that itmay be turned or rocked within the. ring IS in the directions of thearrows shown in Fig. 4. The ring I is journaled above a ring 20. Thisring 20 is mounted in the ring in a similar manner as the ring I in thering IS, the only difference being that the screws 2| and 22, which holdthe ring, are displaced by 90 in relation to the screws l8 and 19. Thering 20 is therefore capable of being rocked or angularly moved withinthe ring I! in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. Thering 20 is rotatable upon the tube 1 around the longitudinal axis of thetube. The tube 1 may thus be turned around its longitudinal axisindependently of the movements of the-Cardan joint, as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 2. Upon the tube i there are also rigidly mounted narrowrings 23 and 24, which serve for guiding the ring 20 mounted betweenthem. 5

With a joint arrangement of the kind described it is possible to rotatethe parts connected by the joint in relation to one another in additionto moving or rocking them in the usual manner as permitted by the Cardanjoint, which feature we have found of particular importance in apparatusfor electro-therapeutic treatment, because it is no longer necessary toadjust the subject to be treated according to the position of thetreatment circuit in space.

What we claim as our invention and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

1. In a system for applying medical treatment with electric oscillationsof very high frequency, a generator, a metal housing therefor, treatmentmeans disposed at a distance from said generator, line means fortransmitting energy from said generator to said treatment means, a rigidmetal envelope enclosing said line means, and a joint connecting saidrigid envelope with said generator housing, said'joint including meanswhereby said rigid envelope may be selectively rotated and angularlymoved in a plurality of planes relative to said generator housing.

2. Apparatus for applying medical treatment with electric oscillationsof very high frequency comprising, a generator, treatment electrodesincluding an application condenser disposed at a distance from saidgenerator, an enclosed rigid high-frequency-feed-line system includingan envelope for connecting said generator withsaid treatment electrodes,a joint disposed at one end of the envelope of said feed line system,means in said joint for moving said envelope in a 'pinrality of planes,and means for rotating said en- 4 velope around its longitudinal axis.

3. Apparatusfor applying medical treatment with electric oscillationscomprising, a generator, treatment means disposed at a distance fromsaid generator, a high-frequency-feed-line system for 45 connecting saidgenerator with said treatment means, a rigid envelope for enclosing saidfeed line system, a joint at one end of said envelope, said jointincluding means whereby said envelope and said treatment means may bemoved in a 50 plurality of planes relative to said generator, and ringmeans disposed between said joint and the end of said envelope, saidring means being r0 tatable upon said envelope for rotatingsaid'envelope and said treatment means relative to said 55 generator.

4. Apparatus for applying medical treatment with electric oscillationscomprising, in combination, a generator and a housing therefor,treatment means disposed ata distance from said 69 generator and saidhousing, a rigid tubular envelope disposed between said housing and saidtreatment means, a joint at one end of said tubular envelope, said jointincluding means whereby said treatment means may 'be selectively movedvertically and horizontally relative to said generator and said housing,means in said joint for rotating said tubular envelope and saidtreatment means relative to said generator and said housing, and ahigh-frequency-feed-line system 70 extending from said generator throughsaid housing and through said rigid tubular envelope to said treatmentmeans for transmitting electric energy iromsaid generator to saidtreatment means. I 7

5. An apparatus of the class described, for applying medical highfrequency treatment comprising, in combination, a generator, angularlymovable and rotatable treatment means disposed at a distance from saidgenerator, a high-frequency-ieed-line system including a rigid tubularenvelope for connecting said generator with said treatment means,conductors extending from said generator through said rigid envelope tosaid treatment means, a joint at one end of said rigid envelopeincluding means for moving said envelope and said treatment meansvertically and horizontally relative to said generator, and means insaid joint whereby said rigid envelope and of said treatment means maybe rotated around its longitudinal axis.

6. In electro-medical apparatus, a source of high frequency current, ahigh-frequency-feedline system, means for adiustably connecting one endof said feed line system to said source of current, said means includinga joint whereby said feed line system may be moved vertically andhorizontally and whereby said feed line system may be rotated in anyvertical and horizontal position within the limits of adjustment, andtreatment means connected to the other end of said feed line system at adistance from said generator.

'7. A therapeutic system comprising, a high frequency generator, ahousing therefor, a joint secured to said housing and a single unitaryrigid metallic envelope projecting from said joint, said joint includingmeans arranged to permit freedom of movement of said envelope relativeto said housing, an application device secured to the free distant endof said envelope, and conductors disposed within said envelope andconnecting said generator with said application device.

8. A therapeutic system comprising, a high frequency generator, ahousing therefor, a joint secured to said housing and a single unitaryrigid metallic envelope projecting from said joint, said joint includingmeans arranged to permit freedom of movement of said envelope relativeto said housing, an application device secured to the free distant endof said envelope, and conductors disposed within said envelope andconnecting said generator with said application device, said conductorsbeing disposed within said envelope in substantially unalterably fixedparallel position to one another.

9. A therapeutic system comprising, a high frequency generator, ahousing therefor, a joint secured to said housing and a single unitaryrigid metallic envelope projecting from said joint, said joint includingmeans arranged to permit freedom of movement of said envelope relativeto said housing, an application device secured to the free distant endof said envelope, and conductors disposed within said envelope andconnecting said generator with said application device, said conductorsbeing disposed within said envelope in substantially unalterable fixedparallel position to one another and forming a high frequency feed linesystem extending from said generator to said application device andarranged to transmit the predetermined high frequency oscillationsthereof without alteration regardless of the position of saidapplication device during the use thereof.

10. In a therapeutic system of the class de-' scribed, a high frequencygenerator, an applicator disposed at a distance from said generator, anda high frequency feed line means for connecting said generator with saidapplicator arranged to transmit the oscillations of said generatorsubstantially without distortion and without loss, said feedline meanscomprising, a metallic tube carrying said applicator at its free distantend and conductors disposed within said tube in parallel and insubstantially fixed and rigid relation to each other, and a jointbetween said tube and 5 said generator whereby said tube may beselectively rotated and angularly moved in a plurality of planesrelative to said generator.

11. Therapeutic apparatus of the class described comprising, a generatorarranged to pro- 0 duce oscillations of predetermined frequency, a

housing for said generator, a metallic tube, a joint for connecting oneend of said tube with said housing, said joint including means forrotating said tube around its longitudinal axis and means whereby saidtube may be moved angularly relative to said housing, conductorsdisposed within said tube in parallel and in substantially fixedposition relative to each other-and relative to said tube fortransmitting said oscillations of prede- 40 termined frequencysubstantially without distortion and without loss, and a. treatmentdevice disposed at the free distant end of said tube arranged to receivesaid oscillations.

12. A therapeutic apparatus comprising a generator, a distantly disposedapplicator, conductor means for connecting said applicator with saidgenerator, at substantially rigid envelope for enclosing said conductormeans and a joint for connecting said envelope with said generator, saidjoint including means whereby said envelope may be selectively rotatedand angularly moved in a plurality of planes relative to said generator.

